Who is typically invited to a wedding rehearsal dinner

Instead, it's a good idea to offer some kind of special dessert — usually one that's a favorite of the soon-to-be wed couple. If you're planning a destination wedding, Chertoff says that you "may want to host welcome cocktails or a dessert party for all of the guests who traveled to the location. Main Menu. Sign Up. Back to Main Menu. Planning Tools.

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Shop by Style Shop by Style. Shop The Knot Invitations. Start a Registry. If you have out-of-town guests, they have traveled the distance to attend your big day. Be considerate if they are running late, and plan accordingly to better accommodate them. You can even opt to have out-of-state guests attend at the close of the dinner for dessert and coffee.

From gift-giving to speeches, the rehearsal dinner is a time for family traditions to be carried out and special moments to be shared. Show your bridal party how much they mean to you with gift-giving tips on our blog! Groomsmen, bridesmaids, the maid of honor, the best man, the ring bearer, and the flower girl all should receive gifts. You can also opt to give the your parents gifts, but you may wish to do this in a more personal setting or on your wedding day. The fathers of the bride and groom typically give speeches during the dinner.

Rehearsal dinners are also a great time for sharing special memories in speeches given by any bridal party member. You can also invite other guests to participate in the story-telling. The wedding is reserved for the maid of honor and best man, but this evening any of the attendees can toast the couple.

The bride and groom can bless the food or close the event with a final cheers thanking everyone for their love, support, assistance and attendance. Try to wrap the evening up no later than 10 p. Are you in the planning stages of your wedding? Written invitations are not required, but still it's a good idea to send them if more than just family will be attending; and the host should mail them right after the wedding invitations go out. The invitations are not as formal as those for a wedding but can reflect its tone.

Because it's typically the first time the bride and groom see most of their close friends and family together, the rehearsal dinner can feel like a reunion. For a more formal dinner, or one with a larger guest list, it helps to have a seating chart so people aren't at a loss about where to go when it's time for the meal to be served.

Furthermore, some members of the two families may be meeting for the first time, and relatives may not be acquainted with everyone in the wedding party. Encourage conversation by seating these people together if you're sure they'll be comfortable , or simply make a point of introducing them personally sometime during the evening. Toasts are often a big part of the evening, and unlike those at the wedding reception, where the order may be well planned, rehearsal dinner toasts tend to be spontaneous.

In this intimate and casual setting, guests will often feel comfortable sharing their memories of the couple and wishing them well. If the groom's parents are hosting, his father might begin by welcoming all the guests and offering a toast to the bride and groom. The father of the bride can stand next, followed by the attendants and any other guests who want to speak. During the toasts, the bride and groom have a chance to say a few words of thanks to all of the people taking part in the wedding.

This is also the traditional time for them to present gifts to the members of the wedding party and perhaps the parents to thank them for their support. Martha Stewart Weddings. The Etiquette of Wedding Rehearsal Dinners.

Save Pin More. Credit: Millie Holloman. Start Slideshow. Credit: Elisabeth Millay. How to Throw an Unforgettable Rehearsal Dinner.

Credit: Scott Clark Photo. More Wedding Roles for Parents. Credit: Patricia Lyons Photography. Credit: Laura Murray. Your Complete Rehearsal Dinner Checklist.